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Released: 8/17/2010

Estey/Nash Ask Board To Continue Discount Programs

Delaware River Port Authority Chairman, John H. Estey and Vice Chair, Jeff Nash, have announced that they will ask the Board to act on several toll discount programs that were scheduled to either end or increase on September 1st to remain as currently constituted. That means the Senior Citizen E-ZPass discount toll will stay at $1.75 and seniors who still have discount coupons may continue to use two of the coupons to cross the Bridge past the original September 1st, 2010, deadline. The Commuter credit of 18 crossings a month on the same transponder will remain at $6.00. The Green Pass discount of $1 for E-ZPass customers driving low emission vehicles will also remain in effect. Both the commuter discount and green discount were scheduled to end on September 1st.

Chairman Estey says “the Commissioners are aware that current economic conditions have resulted in hardships for our customers and keeping discounts in place is one way to help ease the burden.”

Vice Chair Nash adds “we have postponed a bridge toll increase that was scheduled to take effect on September 1st so it makes sense to keep the discounts in place that were to expire or change on that date.”

In addition, both Estey and Nash are asking the DRPA engineering staff, Executive staff and bond counsel to closely examine the proposed Capital program to determine the projects that are critical over the next five to seven years. The goal continues to insure all DRPA and PATCO facilities are safe, secure and serviceable.

CEO John J. Matheussen says “the goals of keeping tolls in line with actual needs as well as always taking a close look at our capital requirements are two concepts the Authority has followed in the past and will continue to do so.”

The Delaware River Port Authority is a regional transportation agency. DRPA owns and operates the Benjamin Franklin, Walt Whitman, Commodore Barry and Betsy Ross Bridges, PATCO and the Philadelphia Cruise Terminal. The DRPA also owns the RiverLink Ferry.